Abstract
Among 1029 dead Sparrowhawks and 1055 dead Kestrels from various parts of Britain that were examined over the period 1963–90, the main causes of death were (a) collisions of various kinds (b) starvation or disease and (c) organochlorine poisoning. The main chemical which caused poisoning was HEOD, derived from the insecticides aldrin and dieldrin. Other deaths were attributed to poisoning by DDE (the main metabolite of the insecticide DDT) and by HE (heptachlor epoxide, derived from the insecticide heptachlor). Sparrowhawks whose deaths were attributed to HEOD poisoning contained 5–85 µg g−1 HEOD in their livers (wet weight), while Kestrels contained 6–99 µg g−1 HEOD. Such birds were typically lighter in weight than collision victims, but heavier than starved or diseased birds. In the period 1963–75, HEOD probably accounted for about 50% of all recorded Sparrowhawk deaths and 39% of all recorded Kestrel deaths in eastern arable districts, but a smaller proportion elsewhere. Geographical variation in the proportion of deaths attributed to HEOD paralleled variation in the proportion of land devoted to arable crops on which aldrin and dieldrin were mainly used. It also paralleled variation in the extent of population decline in these species. Moreover, the proportion of deaths attributed to HEOD declined between 1963–75 and 1976–86, following a marked reduction in aldrin-dieldrin use, and fell to nil in 1987–90, when aldrin and dieldrin were withdrawn altogether. Over this period, the populations of both species recovered from a decline which occurred in the late 1950s, when aldrin-dieldrin were first introduced.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Belisle, A.A., Reichel, W.L., Locke, L.N., Lamont, T.G., Mulhern, B.N., Proty, R.M., DeWolf, R.B. and Cromartie, E. (1972) Residues of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls and mercury, and autopsy data for Bald Eagles, 1969 and 1970.Pesticide Monitor. J. 6, 133–8.
Bogan, J. and Newton, I. (1977) Redistribution of DDE in Sparrowhawks during starvation.Bull. Environ. Contamin. Toxicol. 18, 317–21.
Cade, T.J., Enderson, J.H., Thelander, C.G. and White, C.M. (1988)Peregrine Falcon Populations: Their Management and Recovery. Boise: The Peregrine Fund.
Cooke, A.S., Bell, A.A. and Haas, M.B. (1982)Predatory Birds, Pesticides and Pollution. Cambridge: Institute of Terrestrial Ecology.
Cromartie, E., Reichel, W.L., Locke, L.N., Belisle, A.A., Kaiser, T.E., Lamont, T.G., Mulhern, B.M., Prouty, R.M. and Swineford, D.M. (1975) Residues of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls and autopsy data for Bald Eagles, 1971–72.Pesticide Monitor. J. 9, 11–4.
DeWitt, J.B., Menzie, C.M., Adomaitis, V.A. and Reichell, W.L. (1960) Pesticidal residues in animal tissues.Trans. North Amer. Wildlife Conf. 25, 277–85.
Jefferies, D.J. and Davis, B.N.K. (1968) Dynamics of dieldrin in soil, earthworms, and Song Thrushes.J. Wildlife Management 32, 441–56.
Jefferies, D.J. and French, M.C. (1976) Mercury, cadmium, zinc, copper and organochlorine insecticide levels in small mammals trapped in a wheat field.Environ. Pollut. 10, 175–82.
Jones, D.M., Bennett, D. and Elgar, K.E. (1978) Deaths of owls traced to insecticide-treated timber.Nature 272, 52.
Kaiser, T.E., Reichel, W.L., Locke, L.N., Cromartie, E., Krynitsky, A.J., Lamont, T.G., Mulhern, B.M., Prouty, R.M., Stafford, C.J. and Swineford, D.M. (1980) Organochlorine pesticide, PCB, and PBB residues and necropsy data for Bald Eagles from 29 states — 1975–77.Pesticide Monitor. J. 13, 145–9.
Keymer, I.F., Fletcher, M.R. and Stanley, P.I. (1982) Mortality of Sparrowhawks and Kestrels.Brit. Birds 75, 424–5.
Koeman, J.H., Vink, J.A.J. and De Goeij, J.J.M. (1969) Causes of mortality in birds of prey and owls in the Netherlands in the winter of 1968–1969.Ardea 57, 67–76.
Moore, N.W. (1965) Pesticides and birds-a review of the situation in Great Britain in 1965.Bird study 12, 222–51.
Mulhern, B.M., Reichel, W.L., Locke, L.N., Lamont, T.G., Belisle, A., Bronartie, E., Bagley, G.E. and Proaty, R.M. (1990) Organochlorine residues and autopsy data from Bald Eagles 1966–68.Pesticide Monitor. J. 4, 141–4.
Newton, I. (1979)Population Ecology of Raptors. Berkhamsted: Poyser.
Newton, I. and Haas, M.B. (1984) The return of the Sparrowhawk.Brit. Birds 77, 47–70.
Newton, I. and Wyllie, I. (1992) Recovery of a Sparrowhawk population in relation to declining pesticide contamination.J. Appl. Ecol., in press.
Newton, I. (1986)The Sparrowhawk. Calton: Poyser.
Newton, I., Bell, A.A. and Wyllie, I. (1982a) Mortality of Sparrowhawks and Kestrels.Brit. Birds 75, 195–204.
Newton, I., Bell, A.A. and Wyllie, I. (1982b) Mortality of Sparrowhawks and Kestrels.Brit. Birds 75, 425.
Newton, I., Wyllie, I. and Asher, A. (1991) Mortality causes in British Barn OwlsTyto alba, with a discussion of aldrin-dieldrin poisoning.Ibis 133, 162–9.
Newton, I., Wyllie, I. and Asher, A. (1992) Long-term trends in organochlorine and mercury residues in some predatory birds in Britain.Environ. Pollut., in press.
Nisbet, I.C.T. (1988) The relative importance of DDE and dieldrin in the decline of Peregrine Falcon populations. InPeregrine Falcon Populations. Their Management and Recovery (Cade, T.J., Enderson, J.H., Thelander, C.G. and White, C.M., eds) pp. 351–75, Boise: The Peregrine Fund.
Opdam, P., Burgers, J. and Müskens, G. (1987) Population trend, reproduction, and pesticides in Dutch Sparrowhawks following the ban on DDT.Ardea 75, 205–12.
Porter, R.D. and Wiemeyer, S.N. (1972) DDE at low dietary levels kills captive American Kestrels.Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 8, 193–9.
Prestt, I., Jeffries, D.J. and Macdonald, J.W. (1968) Post-mortem examinations of four Rough-Legged Buzzards.Brit. Birds 61, 45–65.
Prestt, I. and Ratcliffe, D.A. (1972) Effects of organochlorine insecticides on European birdlife.Proc. Int. Ornithological Congr. 15, 407–27.
Prouty, R.M., Reichel, W.L., Locke, L.N., Belisle, A.A., Cromartie, E., Kaiser, T.E., Lamont, T.G., Mulhern, B.M. and Swineford, D.M. (1977) Residues of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls and autopsy data for Bald Eagles, 1973–74.Pesticide Monitor. J. 11, 134–7.
Ratcliffe, D.A. (1980)The Peregrine Falcon. Calton: Poyser.
Reichel, W.L., Schmeling, S.K., Cromartie, E., Kaiser, T.E., Krynitsky, A.J., Lamont, T.G., Mulhern, B.M., Prouty, R.M., Stafford, C.J. and Swineford, D.M. (1984) Pesticide, PCB, and lead residues and necropsy data for Bald Eagles from 31 States — 1978–1981.Environ. Monitor. Assess. 4, 395–403.
Risebrough, R.W. and Peakall, D.B. (1988) The relative importance of the several organochlorines in the decline of Peregrine Falcon populations. InPeregrine Falcon Populations: Their Management and Recovery (Cade, T.J., Enderson, J.H., Thelander, C.G. and White, C.M., eds) pp. 449–62. Boise: The Peregrine Fund.
Stickel, W.H., Stickel, L.F. and Spann, J.W. (1969) Tissue residues of dieldrin in relation to mortality in birds and mammals. InChemical Fallout (Miller, M.W. and Berg, G.G., eds) pp. 174–204. Springfield: C.C. Thomas.
Turtle, E.E., Taylor, A., Wright, E.N., Thearle, R.J.P., Egan, H., Evans, W.H. and Soutar, N.M. (1963) The effects on birds of certain chlorinated insecticides used as seed dressings.J. Sci. Food Agric. 14, 567–77.
Village, A. (1990)The Kestrel. Calton: Poyser.
Walker, C.H., Newton, I., Hallam, S.D. and Ronis, M.J.J. (1987) Activities and toxicological significance of hepatic microsomal enzymes of the Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) and Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus).Comp. Biochem. Physiol (C)86, 379–82.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Newton, I., Wyllie, I. & Asher, A. Mortality from the pesticides aldrin and dieldrin in British Sparrowhawks and Kestrels. Ecotoxicology 1, 31–44 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00702654
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00702654